Admissions Policies and Procedures

Valley International Academy offers a challenging academic curricula to local and international students who wish to enter American universities.  As an international school with a mission of global citizenship, we pride ourselves upon diversity of intellect as well as background. We offer rolling admissions and applications for enrollment are accepted at anytime.

Our classes are small, typically four to eight students.  The VIA Admissions Committee selects students based upon close examination of a broad variety of factors: academic grades, tests, writing samples, recommendations, portfolios, and personal interviews. We expect that students will accept our school’s mission and work towards its Expected Schoolwide Learning Results.

Admission process:

1. 1. Submit Application Form and Fees.
   Interested parents and students fill out the Application Packet online or request that a written form be mailed to them.  Some parents will fill out the “Additional Questions for International (I-20) Students” form and/or the “Scholarship Assistance Request Form.”  Parents must submit $100 in application fees for an American application and $500 in fees for a foreign application (in which we will pay the $200 fees to the US Government).  Fees may be paid in checks, cash or credit cards online through Paypal.  

1. 2. Interview School Officials.
   As a small school, we endeavor to know the abilities, goals and challenges of each family that applies. Our approach is personal and individual because we want everyone involved to make the right decision for their children to enter our learning community. Therefore, we place a high weight upon personal interviews of students as a measure of preparation and motivation.  We speak with students in foreign countries by Skype or phone.   All local students are required to visit the school and meet with teachers, students and staff. 

1. 3. In-school Academic Assessments.
   We encourage families seeking admissions to visit our school and, if possible, will also administer our own academic testing that will include a writing sample as well as math and English placement tests.

1. 4. Enrollment.
   The school's admissions committee will decides upon enrollment based upon a combination of all of the factors above. Parents then will be presented with a contract and offered admissions.  At that point, parents must return the contract and a fifteen per cent tuition deposit with payment due up front or monthly. Foreign applicants will receive a conditional contract so that they risk nothing if they are denied visas.  Matriculation may be conditional upon certain remedial work (e.g. summer school) and a period of observation that includes time spent in our classes.